FULL DISCLOSURE SOUGHT: BM Suplico flags defects in P855-M Ajuy flood projects

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo 5th District Board Member Rolex T. Suplico, in a privilege speech during the 9th regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Aug. 26, reported alleged defects and unfinished works in flood control projects worth PHP855.6 million in Ajuy town.

In his speech titled “Gotcha!,” Suplico presented findings from inspections of projects in Barangays Barrido, Pili, and Mangorocoro.

He said several sections of seawalls worth hundreds of millions of pesos were either substandard, incomplete, or abandoned.

“These projects are crumbling seawalls. They are hollow, about to fall into the sea,” Suplico told the provincial board, citing residents’ claims that some portions had no foundations.

Suplico noted that multiple contractors were involved, including Accelerated Metal Technology & Construction Inc., Jejor’s Construction Corp., F. Gurrea Construction Inc., C’zarles Construction & Supply, Panay East Coast Construction & Supply, QM Builders, and A.D. Pendon Construction & Supply Inc.

Flood control projects in Ajuy, Iloilo (as cited by Suplico):

Brgy. Barrido – PHP203.461 million
• Accelerated Metal Technology & Construction Inc. – PHP39.197 million
• Jejor’s Construction Corp. – PHP29.4 million
• F. Gurrea Construction Inc. – PHP86.464 million
• Panay East Coast Construction & Supply – PHP48.399 million

Brgy. Pili – PHP240.723 million
• C’zarles Construction & Supply – PHP85.156 million
• Accelerated Metal Technology & Construction Inc. – PHP39.7 million
• C’zarles Construction & Supply – PHP86.464 million
• C’zarles Construction & Supply – PHP29.399 million

Brgy. Mangorocoro – PHP411.430 million
• A.D. Pendon Construction & Supply Inc. – PHP76.134 million
• QM Builders – PHP95.341 million
• Jejor’s Construction Corp. – PHP56.706 million
• Accelerated Metal Technology & Construction Inc. – PHP39.703 million
• Jejor’s Construction Corp. – PHP143.543 million

Suplico questioned the awarding of multimillion-peso contracts to single proprietorships, such as C’zarles Construction & Supply, which secured more than PHP200 million worth of projects in Brgy. Pili.

He called the practice a red flag.

On the same day, the board passed Resolution No. 2025-512, authored by Suplico, urging DPWH-6 Regional Director Joel Limpengco to submit full project documentation.

The request includes programs of work, detailed unit price analyses, bills of quantities, and contractor information for all flood control projects in the 5th District since July 1, 2022.

Suplico said the move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pledge for transparency in infrastructure spending, made during his July 28 State of the Nation Address.

On Aug. 19, Suplico delivered his first privilege speech on the matter, titled “Deluge,” where he called for a probe into over PHP1.8 billion in flood control projects in his district.

Citing data from the President’s “Sumbong sa Pangulo” portal, he said only four of the district’s 11 towns were listed—Estancia (PHP19.3 million), Concepcion (PHP49.5 million), Ajuy (PHP816.6 million), and Barotac Viejo (PHP610.2 million)—amounting to PHP1.495 billion.

He noted that seven more projects worth PHP660 million were posted on roadside billboards but missing from the official database, raising the total to about PHP1.842 billion.

He suggested these may have been insertions during bicameral budget deliberations, questioning whether the appropriations were properly vetted.